What Is a Dental Crown and When Do I Need One?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a tooth above the gum line, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. According to MedlinePlus, you may need a crown for several reasons:
- Large Cavity leaving too little natural tooth to hold a filling
- Chipped or Broken Tooth needing protection and extra support
- Worn or Cracked Tooth, often caused by grinding your teeth
- Discolored or Misshapen Tooth not matching the rest of your smile
- Replacement Support, such as anchoring a bridge or covering an implant
If you have a broken tooth with pain, call us right away so we can see whether it needs emergency dental care.
The Dental Crown Process
A crown usually takes two visits, and each one follows a clear set of steps:
- Numb and Prepare: We numb the area and remove any decay or failing filling.
- Reshape: We reshape the tooth so the crown fits comfortably.
- Impression or Digital Scan: We take an impression or digital scan to guide the making of your permanent crown.
- Temporary Crown: We place a temporary crown to protect the tooth while we make your permanent crown.
- Check the Fit: At your second visit, we check the fit of your permanent crown, with an X-ray if needed.
- Cement the Crown: We cement the crown in place so it is secure and comfortable.
The first four steps happen at your first visit, and the last two happen at your second.
What Are Dental Crowns Made Of?
Crowns can be made of metal, porcelain or ceramic, resin, or porcelain fused to metal, and each has tradeoffs. Metal crowns hold up well to chewing and grinding but don’t look as natural. Porcelain and ceramic crowns match your tooth color and can be a good choice if you have a metal allergy. Resin crowns cost less but wear down faster. We recommend a material based on the tooth’s location, your bite, your tooth color, and your budget.
